If he who invented one new pleasure was formerly thought entitled to imperial munificence, what reward does the doctor deserve, who has added as many luxuries to the list, as there are diseases in the catalogues of nosology?

Scotland, though not remarkable in this department of literature, has the honour of producing an author, who in an advertisement published not long ago, has added to the stores of natural history the following very curious facts, with regard to the properties of air and heat. Mr. Fair, mason, opposite to the White Hart Inn, Grass-market, Edinburgh, thus delivers himself on the subject of pneu matics: "Air and smoke," says he, " are two "elastic fluids, capable of being condensed and "expanded. Heat, or the fire in the grate, expands "the air. Being expanded, it becomes lighter. "And, as it is in nature for light matter to swim "to the top of heavier, it rises up the vent, carrying "the smoke along with it. This is the principle

by which fire burns, and smoke ascends. Now, "that the particles of air may be brought above the

fire, that they may be heated to expand and carry "off the smoke, should be the chief care of a mason "in finishing of the fire-places. On the contrary, "it is the cause of smoke.

"The other cause of smoke is the wind. Wind " is a current of the air always rushing into voids. "At the same time it goes forward, by the law of "gravity, it has a tendency to press downwards. "Now, when it blows over any one object higher "than the chimney-top, gravity brings it down"ward, pressing the smoke before it."

It will be observed, that like many other great theorists, Mr. Fair uses a language in some places a little obscure; and that in others, as where he mentions the tendency of wind to press downwards, his expression borders on the jocular; a liberty in

which some of the greatest philosophers have frequently indulged.

These discoveries, however, new and astonishing, are not supernatural. But I have just now read an advertisement, which carries its information beyond the bounds of space and time; and, though the modesty of its author allows that she has borrowed something from the Eastern Magi, may fairly be deemed an original. "Mrs. Corbyn, at No. 41, "Stanhope-street, Clare-market, London, by the "genuine rules of the real astronomical arcana, for "which the wise men of the East were so noted, "undertakes to answer all legal astrological ques❝tions, in a most surprising manner. Continues "to give the most amazing accounts of persons by "sea and land. Gives attendance at the ware-house "every day from ten in the morning to eight at "night." The wise men of the East, and some other astrologers, might perhaps retail some predictions; but the idea of a ware-house of prophecy was, I am persuaded, reserved for Mrs. Corbyn of Clare-market.

In the ornamental part of science, has there been any thing, since the days of Medea, that could so effectually give beauty to homeliness, or restore youth to age, as the Circassian Wash, or the Venetian Flower-water? or has the cunning of art ever rivalled the productions of nature more successfully than in the Elastic Cushion and Spring Curls, "which," says the advertisement, " are as natural " and becoming, nay, by many thought more so, "than the natural hair itself?"

Nor is the merit of those gentlemen much inferior, where they apply arts already discovered, to purposes which their inventors never dreamed of. Socrates was said to have brought down philosophy from heaven to dwell with men. I think the same eulogium may be fairly bestowed on the very inge

nious artist, who has informed us in an advertisement, "that he makes leather breeches by the rules "of trigonometry.”

Having thus done justice to the merit of those authors in point of substance, I proceed to shew their excellence in the composition and style of their productions. Amidst a variety of instances, I shall make choice of one, merely because it strikes my view in last night's Public Advertiser. It is the production of a very voluminous writer in this department, Mr. Norton, of Golden-square.

"E. S. gent. of Tenderden in Kent, was long "afflicted with an inveterate scorbutic disorder. It "first broke out in hot pimples and dry scales all "over his face; then appeared in great blotches on "various parts of his body, and edematous swellings "in his legs, which terminated in dreadful excoria"tions and fœtid ulcers. All this was attended with a "total loss of appetite, and, at last, with such ex"treme langour and debility, that the poor gentle"man was utterly despaired of by several of the "most eminent of the faculty who attended him; "till, at last, by the providential discovery in the 66 newspapers of the efficacy of Maredant's drops, "by taking a few bottles of them, all the above "terrible symptoms began gradually to disappear, "his appetite returned, his complexion regained "its pristine bloom, his skin became as smooth as "that of a new-born babe, and his flesh recovered "the soundness and elasticity of the most vigorous "habit. He has ever since been perfectly stout, "hale, and active, and has had three children born "to him, all thriving and healthy.

This may be considered as a sort of tragi-comic recital, and, if examined by the rules of Aristotle, will be found to contain all the requisites of the best dramatic composition. Here is a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning, the break

ing out of Mr. S's disorder; the middle, the progress of the disease; the end, its perfect cure. Here too, in some sort, is the Ayvagiois, and here evidently the Пgiria, the two great beauties of a perfect drama; the Aynagiris the providential discovery of Maredant's drops; the Пgrua the change of situation from pimples and scales to a blooming complexion, from blotches and ulcers to smoothness of skin and soundness of flesh, from extreme debility and langour, to being the father of healthy children.

Nor is this class of writers less remarkable for adaptation of style than for correctness of composition. The advertisement above recited of Dr. Dominiceti, and the daily performances of Mess. Christie and Ansell, shew to what elevation they can raise it, when the subject requires elevation. On the other hand, where shall we find more truly characteristic simplicity than in the following notice from a gentleman-tailor?" Wanted, by a single "gentleman-tailor, a servant maid, to act as house"keeper and cook, where a girl is kept to attend "and wait upon the master. None need apply "who will pretend to manage the kitchen fire with❝out his directions, as he understands the manage❝ment of coal-fires, which few servants in this town "do. As he commonly dines out of a Sunday, he expects his servants to go to church, instead of ❝ cooking dainties to themselves, such as shoulders " of veal stuff'd, &c. as, though he is a single man, "he is very well instructed by a neighbour how "to manage, his family....Apply next door to "the steps, Panton-square."

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Other writers, often equally poor and proud, may perhaps object to the class of authors whom I commemorate, that they write not from the love of science, or the desire of fame, but from motives merely interested and selfish. But a little acquaint

ance with many of their productions will effectually remove this reproach. Is it not benevolence alone that forces Mr. Speediman, in spite of his natural modesty, to address the public in an advertisement? "Mr. Speediman would be unjust to the public if "he any longer delayed acquainting them of the "virtues of his stomach-pills." Are there not daily advertisements of sales "far below prime cost," which continue for several years to the evident advantage of the public, and loss of the advertiser ? and does not Mr. Molesworth press adventurers in the lottery to purchase his tickets and shares, though he knows, by certain calculation, that they are to be drawn prizes?

To such men, may not the above quoted motto of the illustrious Dr. Dominiceti be most deservedly applied?

"Non sibi, sed toto genitum se credere mundo;"

which, however, as malice is always ready to detract from merit, I heard a wicked wag of my acquaintance translate the other day to a company of ladies, that the doctor's fumigations "were to make "himself live, and to kill all the world beside."

Z.